Israeli Arab citizens are abhorred, unwanted, discriminated against and abused, what apartheid governance is all about – profoundly undemocratic, affording rights exclusively to Jews over others, especially Muslims.

Apartheid is an international high crime. According to the 1973 International Convention for the Suppression and Punishment of the Crime of Apartheid (the Apartheid Convention), the practice is state-sanctioned discriminatory “inhuman” racism – “committed for the purpose of establishing and maintaining domination by one racial group of persons over any other racial group of persons and systematically oppressing them.”

Israel’s version is much harsher than South Africa’s, waging undeclared war on Palestinians for not being Jewish, oppressing them viciously, killing and otherwise abusing them with impunity – the world community doing nothing to protect the rights of a long-suffering people, besieged Gazans harmed most of all.

Like America, Israel is a fantasy democracy, not the real thing. In January 2016, hardline Knesset members rejected Joint (Arab) List MK Jamal Zahalka’s draft measure, calling for inclusion of an equality clause in Israel’s Basic Law: Human Dignity and Liberty.

Presenting his draft measure in Knesset session, Zahalka said:

“All constitutions in modern countries begin with stressing the principle of equality amongst their citizens,” adding:

“Even undemocratic countries adopt this principle legally, considering it a cornerstone for any modern political system, including democracy, which seems impossible and meaningless without equality.”

A self-declared Jewish state assures inequality for citizens of other faiths, notably Muslims, their fundamental rights denied.

Majority hardline Knesset members are advancing nation-state legislation calling the “State of Israel…the national home of the Jewish people.”

Its draft language declared the “right to self-determination…unique to the Jewish people,” codifying discrimination against Arab citizens.

The measure passed its first reading – three readings required for enactment into law.

If adopted as Israeli Basic Law, it would enshrine the nation as “the national home of the Jewish people” – recognizing Israel’s Jewish character over governance of, by, and for all its citizens equally, a notion categorically rejected.

On Monday, legislation submitted for consideration to the Knesset presidium by Joint (Arab) List MKs Jamal Zahalka, Haneen Zoabi and Joumah Azbarga, defining Israel as a state for all its citizens, was disqualified without debate.

It’s objective was “to anchor in constitutional law the principle of equal citizenship while recognizing the existence and rights of the two, Jewish and Arab, national groups living within the country.”

MK Zoabi slammed the measure’s rejection, saying “(t)he cancellation of our bill shows that democracy and equal rights do not go hand-in-hand with the way Israel defines itself as a Jewish state,” adding:

“It is clear that Israel considers democracy, or even demanding it, a threat to its existence.”

Islamophobe Knesset speaker Yuli Yoel Edelstein denounced the bill, calling it “a preposterous (measure) that any intelligent individual can see must be blocked immediately.”

Knesset legal advisor Eyal Yinon added “it is hard to not see such a proposal as one that seeks to deny Israel’s existence as the state of the Jewish people…”

A nation favoring some of its people over others based on religion, ethnicity, race, or other factors is what apartheid viciousness is all about.

It’s how Israel has been governed from inception, treating its Arab citizens and Occupied Palestinians ruthlessly – with world community support for failing to challenge what’s lawless, heartless and barbaric.

Stephen Lendman was born in 1934 in Boston, MA. In 1956, he received a BA from Harvard University. Two years of US Army service followed, then an MBA from the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania in 1960. After working seven years as a marketing research analyst, he joined the Lendman Group family business in 1967. He remained there until retiring at year end 1999. Writing on major world and national issues began in summer 2005. In early 2007, radio hosting followed. Lendman now hosts the Progressive Radio News Hour on the Progressive Radio Network three times weekly. Distinguished guests are featured. Listen live or archived. Major world and national issues are discussed. Lendman is a 2008 Project Censored winner and 2011 Mexican Journalists Club international journalism award recipient.

About Stephen

Stephen Lendman was born in 1934 in Boston, MA. In 1956, he received a BA from Harvard University. Two years of US Army service followed, then an MBA from the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania in 1960. After working seven years as a marketing research analyst, he joined the Lendman Group family business in 1967.